What is a Squint?

A squint is a condition where the two eyes do not look in the same direction at the same time. Instead of working together, one eye may turn inwards (esotropia), outwards (exotropia), upwards, or downwards. Imagine a pair of dancers moving in perfect harmony, each step matching the other. Our eyes are like those dancers—working together to focus, to track, and to give us depth and clarity. But sometimes, one dancer moves out of step. One eye looks straight while the other wanders inward, outward, upward, or downward. This misalignment is called a squint, or strabismus.

When Does It Occur?

Squints can occur at any age—sometimes present at birth, sometimes developing in childhood, and occasionally appearing in adulthood due to other eye or brain conditions.

How Does It Occur?

For the eyes to remain aligned, six tiny muscles around each eye must work in perfect balance, guided by signals from the brain. A squint happens when this coordination is disrupted. The brain may receive different images from each eye, leading to double vision in adults or suppression of one image in children.

Why Does It Occur?

• Several reasons may lead to squint:

• Congenital causes – present from birth

• Refractive errors – uncorrected farsightedness can strain the eyes

• Weak or imbalanced eye muscles

• Nerve palsies affecting eye movement

• Medical conditions such as thyroid disease, stroke, or trauma

Treatment Options

• Treatment depends on the type and cause of squint:

• Glasses – correct refractive errors and sometimes improve alignment

• Eye exercises – help strengthen control in selected cases

• Patching – used in children to treat “lazy eye” (amblyopia) associated with squint

• Botulinum toxin injections – temporarily weaken overactive muscles

• Squint surgery – adjusts the muscles to align the eyes properly

General Information

Early detection is crucial, especially in children, to prevent amblyopia (lazy eye) and loss of binocular vision. In adults, treatment helps relieve double vision and restores normal appearance. Squint management is not just cosmetic—it protects vision, confidence, and quality of life..